5 Eco-Friendly Product Symbols Consumers Should Know Before Deciding to Purchase Products

The Thai society has become increasingly aware of nature and the environment, partly because we have begun to realize that environmental issues such as global warming are very close to us and are affecting every aspect of our lives more and more. Many people are turning to eco-friendly products, which are not only recycled materials referred to as eco-friendly products but also products made from environmentally friendly processes, such as BEGER paint, which is equally eco-friendly.5 Eco-Friendly Product SymbolsThis will make being eco-friendly easier!

Currently, there are many products developed with consideration for eco-friendliness, energy, and resources, to help reduce harm to the planet, decrease greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming, and contribute to restoring balance to the earth. Commonly seen materials include various recycled items such as spoons, forks, drinking glasses, bags, bracelets, tables, chairs, and another group consists of newly created products that pay attention to the production process to reducecarbonemissions, reduce resource use, reduce the use of natural energy, switch to clean energy, and have appropriate and sustainable methods for managing products after use, of which BEGER paint is one.

5 Eco-Friendly Product Symbols You Should Know

Consumers may not always know in depth whether the products we are interested in are eco-friendly or not, but these 5 eco-friendly product symbols compiled here will help us notice and choose more environmentally friendly products. This is a way to contribute to reducing environmental destruction and saving the planet. Let’s take a look at what these symbols are.

1. Highest Efficiency Energy Saving Label

The Highest Efficiency Energy Saving Label is a certification for building wall paints that have a Solar Radiation Reflectance value of 80% or higher. Paints with high reflectance values help reduce the amount of heat entering the building, lowering the internal temperature, saving energy for cooling, and reducing long-term maintenance costs for the building.

BEGER paint has receiveda certificate of honor as a partner in the “Energy Saving Label No. 5 Project”from the Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency (DEDE) and the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) at the event “30th Anniversary of the Energy Saving Label No. 5 Project with Love and Commitment.”

2. Clean Air Standard

The GREENGUARD GOLD Certification is one of the global standards for indoor air quality, certified by UL (Underwriters Laboratories Inc.) in the United States. This standard strictly checks the level of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from construction and decorative materials to ensure that the products are safe for users and the environment.

GREENGUARD is divided into 2 levels:

• The basic GREENGUARD Certification requires VOC emissions to be less than 0.00050 grams per cubic meter.
• The GREENGUARD GOLD Certification, the highest level, has stricter controls, requiring VOC emissions to be less than 0.00022 grams per cubic meter.

3. Carbon Footprint Reduction Label

Also known as the Carbon Footprint Reduction Label, this label indicates that the product has undergone a process to reduce greenhouse gas emissions throughout its life cycle, from raw material acquisition, production, transportation, usage, to disposal after use.

To receive theCarbon Footprint Reduction Labelit must meet 2 criteria from the Greenhouse Gas Management Organization (Public Organization), which include

• the valueCarbon FootprintThe carbon footprint of the current year’s product compared to the carbon footprint of the product in the baseline year (data no more than 3 years old) has decreased by more than or equal to 2%
• The carbon footprint of the current year’s product is less than or equal to the performance benchmark of each product group

By product colorBeger Cool Diamond Shield 15is the first building paint product in Thailand to receive the highest carbon reduction label (gold label) in the paint business group as well

4. Green Label

Products that carry theGreen Label(Green Label Thailand) or the environmental label of Thailand have been verified by a central organization that the product meets standards and is environmentally responsible, with components, production processes, usage, and disposal having less environmental impact than similar products that do not carry the label, with varying requirements for each product category

ForBeger paintthere are 3 types of colors that have a green label on the packaging, totaling 28 models, including

• water-based topcoat in Semi Gloss and Gloss types, totaling 13 models
• water-based topcoat in matte type, totaling 11 models
• water-based primer, totaling 4 models

5. LEED Label

LEED Certification (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) established by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) in the United States is a scoring assessment system for the use of construction and the design of green buildings or any type of building that considers the environment throughout the building’s life cycle

The purpose is to reduce environmental impacts, help address climate change issues, protect and restore water resources and biodiversity, promote the use of renewable and sustainable building materials, and enhance the safety and health of building users and communities

According to the requirements of the revised LEED v.4, the score will be assessed based on the building’s performance in various aspects, from integrated processes, sustainable sites, location and transportation, water usage efficiency, energy and atmosphere, indoor environmental quality, to design innovation, with a total of 4 certification levels, including

• LEED certified – 40 to 49 points
• LEED Silver – 50 to 59 points
• LEED Gold – 60 to 69 points
• LEED Platinum – 80 to 110 points

In the section about BEGER paints that have received the LEED v4.1 label certifying hazardous volatile substances (Low VOCs), there are products such as energy-saving cool house paint like BEGER Cool Diamond Shield 15 and the water-based 2in1 paint likeBEGER Shield Grip Tech Two-in-One Rust Proof 

6. WELL Label

The WELL Building Standard is an international standard for building design that focuses on the environment, well-being, and the health of occupants or users of the building, established by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI). WELL v2 assesses buildings under 10 key topics, including Air, Water, Nutrition, Light, Movement, Comfort, Sound, Materials, Mind, and Community

to ensure that building users breathe clean air free from toxins, have access to clean water, receive complete and hygienic nutrition, enjoy adequate and appropriate lighting, have spaces for activities or exercise, experience comfortable air quality, are not disturbed by noise pollution, use safe and uncontaminated building materials, and can relax their minds in a natural environment.

The WELL label that BEGER paints hold certifies compliance with toxin emission standards, serving as a guarantee of safety for building users or residents. For example,BEGER Shield Air Fresh Gold Ionwas recognized as the most trusted interior paint by mothers and children at the theAsianparent Awards 2023.

7. Green Industry Label

The Green Industry label from the Ministry of Industry is based on the concept of developing and promoting sustainable growth in the industrial sector while managing to be environmentally and socially friendly, ensuring that organizations are aware and collectively reduce their environmental impact.

The Green Industry label consists of 5 levels:

• Level 1: Green Commitment, which aims to reduce environmental impact.
• Level 2: Green Activity, successfully conducting activities to reduce environmental impact.
• Level 3: Green System, managing the environment systematically, continuously monitoring and evaluating, and receiving awards or environmental certification. Currently, BEGER paints have received certification at this level.
• Level 4: Green Culture, fostering a culture where everyone in the organization works together to drive environmentally friendly business practices.
• Level 5: Green Network, not only within the organization but also supporting partners or stakeholders to engage in the green industry process together, promoting eco-friendly concepts and expanding the green network further.

The Green Industry label thus serves as a guarantee for environmentally friendly products and the improvement, development, and responsibility throughout the production process, management, and supply chain for environmental preservation and sustainable coexistence with society and communities. BEGER paints have achieved the Green Industry award Level 4 covering 100% of production

In addition to the 5 eco-friendly product symbols, there are numerous environmental, energy, and safety labels or symbols that indicate a commitment to the world, the environment, and consumers, including the Energy Saving Label No. 5 from the Ministry of Energy, the Carbon Footprint of Products (CFP), safety standards for hazardous heavy metals (EN71), and industrial standards (TIS), all of which are important indicators that await our attention to recognize and collectively reduce our impact on the world from now on. BEGER paints have won theGreen Industry awardas a leading manufacturer and innovator of house paints in Thailand, moving forward to create new sustainability standards and winning the Green Industry award at Level 4 (Green Culture) covering 100% of all production units. This honor from the Ministry of Industry reflects the establishment of a tangible and sustainable “Green Culture” in every step of the working process.